Statement on George Floyd

This past week has seen so much turmoil and strident conflict in our nation that like many of you, I was shocked and began alternating between being overwhelmed by anger one moment and then by sadness the next. I did not want to put any of my thoughts on paper until such time as I could be more centered, if that was even possible. I have failed in that attempt but can wait no longer in saying something.

Parish Reopening Guidelines

“We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works.
We should not stay away from our assembly, as is the custom of some, but encourage one another, and this all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NABRE)

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

It has been quite the journey for all of us. The ‘shutting down’ and ‘sheltering in place’ mandates were drastic, immediate and difficult. All of that certainly took us by surprise and I suspect we can resonate with this year’s Holy Week message from Pope Francis as he spoke of the storm that we did not anticipate. He also reminded us that in the midst of this storm too, we have not been ‘in the boat’ alone and abandoned. Jesus himself encourages us to reach out in faith as he calms the storm with a word and rebuke.

I am so happy to write to you and say that we are on the cusp of reopening. By necessity, this reopening will be incremental and prolonged, literally one step at a time. The following guidelines have been put together to help all of us in that process so that we may open up again in a safe and responsible way. These guidelines have also been crafted to help all of our locations to be in compliance with whatever regulations and mandates come to us by way of civil authorities, be they city, county, state or federal. With that in mind, and now that these diocesan guidelines have been published, you may begin the process of reopening at your earliest convenience even if we do not do so at exactly the same time. Again, this is with the understanding that all diocesan and civil requirements are observed. We hope for and anticipate an official, that is, diocesan wide reopening for the Feast of Corpus Christi on the weekend of June 13 and 14, 2020.

I know that this has been a long time coming. I also know that you have been under a lot of stress and pressure. You have been heroic and creative in your response to all of this, most especially in the way that you have discovered new ways to nourish and sustain your faith and help others to do so. You are so good and I am so grateful!